That was the forecast at a conference Julie Kennedy attended several years ago.
âNow we are starting to see that water is a rich commodity,â Kennedy, Grand Rapids Public Utilities general manager said.
Several Iron Range municipalities are asking residents, businesses and other users to conserve water as a summer-long drought lingers.
So far, the conservation requests are voluntarily.
âWe did voluntary efforts probably about a month ago, specifically irrigation,â Kennedy said. âPeople say, I can deal with my yard dying, but I just put $1,000 worth of shrubs in . We re asking people to take shorter showers, turn off the water when they re brushing their teeth, and to sprinkle between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.â